December was really wet

Yes, December was wet. The year ended wet: six days of rain last week, 1.6”, though 0.7” was in the new year. The 4.3” of precipitation is now the fourth time over 4” fell this month this century. Rainfall was 25% above the 3.4” century average, 0.9” more.

Rain fell 22 days. Rain came down 13 days straight, Dec. 7-19 and seven of the last 11 days, with almost an inch Dec. 29-31.

Fourteen years there have been 3” or more of rain. Two years there was about 4.5” of rain and in 2015 seven inches fell.

Less than 1.5” rain occurred twice, 1.3” each in 2009 and 2011.

The month was much warmer than normal, with the average high of 48.3 F 20% above the century average, a full 8.0 F. The high went over 50 F nine times, with a five day run Dec.4-8 and the month’s high of 58 F Dec. 7.

The average daily low was 36.5 F, 5% above average, though the daily average high, at 45 F was 6% below the century average, pulled down by the incessant cloud cover.

It did get cold: there were 10 frosty mornings, starting with the first five days of December.

It did not snow last month.

There are 19 years of data, with no records for 2002 or 2005.

Measurements and data are at Washington State University’s Mount Vernon weather station on Memorial Highway.